United efforts result in purchase of truck

Vehicle to aid in responding to hazardous calls

LEEN LARICCI and SUZANNE REHAK, Chronicle Correspondents

Published
6:30 am CST, Thursday, February 9, 2006

Fort Bend communities have been waiting for close to three years for a vehicle recently unveiled at Sugar Land Fire Station No. 5 in Commonwealth that will respond to calls involving hazardous materials and chemicals.

The fire truck is funded through federal and state homeland security grants.

Sugar Land Fire Chief Dannie Smith said obtaining this vehicle was one of his first projects after he joined the staff three years ago and called it "a dream come true."

"It's a project where we are bringing three communities — Missouri City, Stafford and Sugar Land — together," Smith said.

Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace said purchase of the truck shows how communities can work together.

"We are trying to increase public awareness, and we need to provide immediate response so our citizens can feel and be safer," Wallace said.

Smith said, "I am relieved to have this vehicle at our station."

The Sugar Land fire chief said the cities have been purchasing equipment to respond to hazardous materials incidents for two years, including protective suits, breathing apparatus and spill containment apparatus.

Each city will have firefighters specifically trained to respond to hazardous materials incidents, said Missouri City acting fire chief Russell Sander.

"Our goal will be to have a minimum of five firefighters to choose from,"Sander said. "We are hoping to have two on duty every day."

He said firefighters' training includes working with hazardous materials.

Sugar Land is housing the vehicle, which was funded through a $700,000 grant.

Smith said Sugar Land is the largest fire department in the area. It will provide the personnel with the extra training at Fire Station 5, 5735 Commonwealth Blvd., for the vehicle, which holds gear such as protective clothing, gas monitoring equipment, train derailment kits and decontamination equipment.

Decontamination equipment includes a shelter through which people exposed to hazardous materials can be sprayed with a decontamination solution.

"If we have a hazardous materials emergency," Smith said, "Sugar Land will be able to quickly respond. If there is need for additional help, then we will have Stafford and Missouri City to call on."

Sugar Land Fire Department Capt. Roy Mercer said, "A unique feature of the truck includes a 3-foot telescoping camera on the side of the truck, which goes 35 feet up from the truck allowing firefighters to zoom into the scene.

"Also, there is a television plug outlet on the side of the truck to watch personnel working in the hot zone," he said.

Mercer said, "This is a homeland security issue. The federal government is still taking this seriously, we are preparing for the future.

"Our training facility is recognized by the state fire commission. We have available 100 technicians in Fort Bend County already certified to use the equipment," Mercer said.

"We have had to rely on the city of Houston in the past, but now we can take care of the problems ourselves."